Born as a beautiful baby girl to a pair of immigrant Seekers, L'kai spent his childhood in Ul'dah rather naively. He was generally a happy child, making due with the little resources his poor family had. His parents were strong believers of raising a child to be independent, oft choosing not to meddle in L'kai's life and letting him do as he pleased.

As a child, L'kai would often get into fights with the other children who lived in the less fortunate districts of Ul'dah. Returning home with a bloody nose and scuffs on his knees, his parents would talk frequently about teaching him self defense. After much debate, 12 year old L'kai was enrolled into the pugilist guild, where he learned how to protect himself and deal heavy damage to an opponent with naught but his fists.

L'kai's training through the years may have made him stronger, but as he defeated his opponents, he soon became infamous thanks to rumors of him attacking others. Of course, these rumors were false, spread by the very same faces that had beat him as a child. Now 17 years old, L'kai was unable to enjoy companionship, as no one wanted to associate with him.

After staving off the loneliness for as long as he could, L'kai confronted those who spread the rumors, this time with words instead of his fists. The confrontation seemed like a success in L'kai's eyes, the other party agreeing to lay off of him - until L'kai returned home for the night.

A house fire, ruled as arson by an unknown perpetrator, affected only one home in the slums of Ul'dah. His parents, his home, his childhood, had all been burned to a crisp in a matter of minutes. He had no doubt in his mind that the other teenagers, who he had been speaking to only several hours prior, had done this. He didn't want revenge. He wanted to run away.

And so he did. L'kai obtained the funds for an airship to Limsa Lominsa through unsavory methods. He would steal, mostly, but wasn't afraid to sell his body for the last few hundred gil he needed.

Upon arriving to Limsa Lominsa, L'kai changed his appearance, cutting his hair and buying masculine clothing with his remaining funds. He changed his name, starting a new life in a new city.

And so, L'kai Tia is born.